Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-22
A FAYoREp COUNTRY.

John E. Bacon, Charge d'Aifaires of the
legation of the United States at Monte
Fideo, sends to the State Department at
Washington a very exhaustive report. of
his observations in Uruguay that reads
like fairy tale, yet dealing with a grave
commercial question. Mr.. Bacon extols
the beauty of Monteyideo, city of $780,
900 population, whose schools, churches,
theaters and universities are of the first
order; its citizens wealthy, refined, educated
and courteous; its women unusually hand
some and graceful; its men gallant and
courteous, and the society not elsewhere
excelled in general intelligence culture
and refinement, while it is remarkable for
the Inequalities and amenities of life.
The climate he declares to be almost per-
feet, aud the city unusually well drained
and healthy. So warm is he in praise
that he finds it difficult to command Ian
guage strong enough in which to express
himself. Thus, speaking of the wonder
ful country villas and their surroundings,
he says:
These gardens, owing to the mildness of the
winter climate, are redolcnt the wear round
Win the most lovely and gorgeous flowers, from
the delicate harebell to the grand and gorgeous
Magnolia grdndiford. The fruits and flowers of
these villas are indeed indescribably beautiful
me geraniuns are 50 large and plentiful as to
lofm hedges of particolored leaves and flowers
the pansies are apparently endowed with i'm,
mortality, the green sward mocks the emerald
the sea IS rs blue as the "blue grotto' itself
alq lhe skies a;e as azure as azure can be-"
ms may be regarded rs piece of fancy. Not
So Indeed, it is well known that words fail to
PANT the beauties of nature, and really have
used no varnish.
Mr.. Bacon is solicAous that the United
States shall industriously cultivate trade
relations with the republic of Uruguay,
which is peculiarly blessed by nature in
those physical agents by which, as
Buckle put it, the human race is most
powerfully nAuenced-climate food, soil
and the general aspects of nature. The
climate, that of the south temperate zone,
Is almost perfect, the soil the most pro-
ductive known. In no cline or country
are the skies and seas, hills and dales,
rivers and streams, meadows and fields,
gardens and trees, pastures green and bah
bling brooks fruit, flower and fern more
perfect.
He points out that the already large
commerce of the Republic must greatly in
crease, and if our people are alive to their
interest they will not lose moment in
cultivating it to their own advantage. He
declares that after a careful study of the
subject, strengthened By experience and
travel in South America, l am satisfied
that the Argentine Republic and Uruguay
are bound to be the great and controlling
powers of South America" We sell to
the people of Uruguay pitch and white
pine, spruce, kerosene, rosin, shocks, cotton
goods, sugar, ropes, tobacco, liquors, in
dustrial implements, ready-made clothing,
provisions, dry goods, etc. Yet in the list of
countries trading with the shrewd, rich
experienced merchants of Uruguay, the
United States stands low down; in fact,
England, France, Brazil, Spain, Italy and
Germany exceed Us. Our imports from
Uruguay decreased in 1888 S263,07S, and
our exports in 1881 fell off 81, $50 440. and
in 1885, Sl5S,Se2 England, both in i'm
ports and exports, far exceeds all Others in
trade with Uruguay, Notwithstanding the
fact that all the material advantages are
upon our side. The little State of Belgium
IN three years, has exported more from
Uruguay than the United States. Italy
and Germany, and yet Uruguay exports
articles that we need in great quantity.
and for which, in some cases, we pay more
elsewhere Uruguay is astirring competi-
tor with US in supplying meats to Europe,
and the frozen meat trade is assuming
gigantic proportions Germany, France
and Italy and England are doing their
utmost to wrest from US the export meat
trade and transfer it to Uruguay. He be-
Eeves that a successful effort may be made
to strengthen our trade relations with the
little Republic, and eounteract English,
French and German influences. To do
this American capital must invest in Uru-
quay, otherwise Europe win secure a
monopoly of the trade. Such investments
as American houses have made there have
been very profitable, and he cites one in
stance of the remarkable success of a Balti-
more firm located at Paysandu. From
that place alone, by this investment,
the exports to the United States
rose from SlS7, 422 in 1884, to s211, go
in 1885. Mr.. Bacon looks to the
proposed international railway to Uru-
quay aud the Argentine Republic, 50
as to connect New York closer CONNER
.ciallv with those States, and the invest
-ment Of American capital, as the two
means of saving The vast trade of the two